International border closure heartbreak for Thornlands German expat mum and family

She gave birth to a baby boy, Avery last year and is desperate for his grandparents to meet him.

The Thornlands family usually visit north west Germany once a year, and Ms Nothling's family fly out to help out with her three children during the holidays in Australia.

Due to restrictions parents are not considered immediate family and are not allowed to enter the country.

Ms Nothling has lived in Australia since 2007 and married her firefighter husband Michael in 2010. All of her family still live in Germany.

"My parents were supposed to fly over for Avery's birth, but that didn't happen. We usually Facetime several times a week... at Christmas we had a big family Zoom meeting," she said.

The mum of three said it was a struggle as her family was missing out on milestones in her and her family's life.

"Sometimes I hold back because I don't want to make them sad. It is affecting my mental health as well as my parents... I've had to break my parents hearts several times," she said.

Ms Nothling worries that something happens to her family, or vice versa and they are thousands of miles apart, unable to support each other.

The Nothlings are one of many expat families living in the Redlands who are unable to see their families - not knowing if they ever will.

"I had no idea when I said goodbye to my grandpa in July 2019, it may be the last time I will see him," Ms Nothling said.

A group Parents are Immediate Family is pushing for the government to recognise parents and grandparents as immediate family and grant them visas to enter the country.

On Monday the group flew a banner over Brisbane - Scomo Let Our Overseas Parents Visit - hoping to put pressure on government and make people aware of their plight.

Last week Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that international travel would be back on the cards next month. Fully-vaccinated Australians, permanent residents, and their family members will undergo seven-day home quarantine from November, in states able to implement the system.

Ms Nothling said her fully-vaxxed parents were due to come to Queensland this month, but went on holiday in Spain instead.

"International students and economic visa holders are allowed into the country, but parents are not. Other countries have at repatriation flights and parents are recognised as immediate family... I can go to Germany, I have dual citizenship, but there is no guarantee I'll be able to get back to Australia," she said.